Hi all!

My 96 Grand Caravan suddenly stopped idling when I was sitting in park in my drive way. Cranks but will not start. Here is what I know so far

- have fuel pressure
- no trouble codes except EGR
- trouble code was also set for battery disconnect seems weird as battery
Terminals were tight and battery is good.
- tested ETAC relay on bench...seems to work fine
- tested coil connector with test light while cranking engine 2of3 pins flash
On and off while cranking. one pin does not flash
- new coil added before problems began car ran fine for several months
- engine shut down smoothly no stumbling or misses
- could not get spark when connecting a wire to coil and holding close
To a ground source while cranking engine


So, few questions: since engine was idling at 600rpm when it shut down, would it still set bad crank position sensor or bad cam position codes?

Also Engine is a 3.8 with a recent tuneup? Has stock ECM in it.



Any ideas?

Thanks
Nish

 

Welcome to DF
Do you know if you have spark at the plugs? Sure it could be either the cam or crank sensor.

 

Hi,
no spark to plugs. Cheapest things to replace would be Crank and cam position sensor vs ECM (if it has a bad coil driver circuit).

Are these sensors (crank and cam) easy to access and replace?

Thanks
Nish

 

Yes they are. The crank sensor is bolted to the bellhousing of the transmission and the cam sensor is bolted to the front timing cover by the alternator.

 

Just went out and cranked engine. It has been sitting for the past month.

Now engine begins to catch when cranked, for a tenth of a second then dies. Tach rises as it cranks and tries to catch. It did not throw any more codes.I can smell the gas.

So, still change crank and cam sensor? Also, what drives the tach?

Thanks

 

If the van is trying to start and you smell gas, remove all the spark plugs. They maybe soaked with fuel.

 

Ok , will try that.

Is it possible that ETAC relay is shutting of spark and fuel pump, and gas I smell is injectors bleeding of fuel pressure and fouling the plugs?

 

If the van starts, keep your foot down on the gas pedal. and maybe it will stay running.